A little about Schizophrenia as a Ukrainian

The World Schizophrenia Day is a date to remember many of us carry Ukraines inside our souls.

War in Ukraine goes on, and it is expected for me as a Ukrainian to keep writing and telling people the current state of things. This is a mission I will firmly hold as long as the situation continues inside the definition of humanitarian disaster, but today I want to go further a bit and talk a little about mental health. 

May 24th is the World Schizophrenia Day, a date selected to spread awareness about this illness and eradicate myths and superstitions around this serious disorder and other related diseases. This is a suffering carried by millions in the world. An extreme suffering that compares to an internal war regardless of the external context of the victim's nation.

At this very moment, millions of persons with schizophrenia are living in their own internal Ukraine despite being lucky enough to live in peaceful and wealthy countries. 

I can say a little about both worlds because I was diagnosed with this disorder five years ago. The disruption of my life was comparable to a war between nations and I lost most of my social and familiar circle to my deep disorganized thinking and disturbed perceptions that led me to further isolation and sadness. If it would not be by my wonderful and supportive wife, at the time our son was just a baby, I would certainly have lost this war and maybe wouldn't even be here to tell the story (which is very long by the way.)

Someone affected by schizophrenia is someone in the deepest levels of misery. Thoughts, perceptions and emotions are fragmented to a level we start to question our personality. In this sense, Ukraine's current anguish cannot be compared to one from an individual that carries this illness because our adversity didn't affected, so far, our strong belief that the defense of our nationhood is duty to our families, to our ancestors, and for those values we judge elementary to a civilization like justice and freedom.

The challenges I needed to endure years ago were much aggravated by the misconceptions and lack of support I faced at the time. Mental health in Ukraine, as in many other countries, is a controversial issue and taken as a second-tier section of medical practice. Even where the therapies are more advanced and societies more understanding, I assume that living with schizophrenia is a burden anywhere, anytime.

And especially for my partners of diagnosis, I write these words here. Your internal suffering, your internal Ukraine, despite it seems impossible so many times, can be manageable and with proper care you can still make a difference in the world.

I really admire all the solidarity with Ukraine. Asking as a Ukrainian and as a patient himself: Please take this World Schizophrenia Day as an invitation and try to extend this solidarity to those who are living the hardship of a Ukraine inside their souls, being in Ukraine or anywhere else.